The A♭ Minor 6th chord is a four-note chord made up of A♭, C♭, E♭, and F. It is built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, and major sixth.
Construction
A♭ Minor 6th = Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 6th = A♭ · C♭ · E♭ · F
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ | Root | 1 |
| C♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| E♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| F | Major 6th | 6 |
A♭ Minor 6th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – F |
| 1st Inversion | C♭ – E♭ – F – A♭ |
| 2nd Inversion | E♭ – F – A♭ – C♭ |
| 3rd Inversion | F – A♭ – C♭ – E♭ |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the A♭ Minor 6th is the tonic (i) chord of Ab Minor, which shares the signature of its relative major, Cb Major — 7 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭).
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of A♭ Minor
These are the triads built on each degree of the A♭ minor scale:
Same Notes, Other Names
The notes A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – F aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:
A♭ Minor 6th — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the A♭ Minor 6th chord on piano?
The A♭ Minor 6th chord contains the notes A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – F. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Ab Minor 6th chord?
Abm6 contains: Ab, Cb, Eb, F. Minor triad with major sixth.
How does Abm6 differ from Abm7?
Abm6 has F (major sixth). Abm7 has Gb (minor seventh).
How is Abm6 used?
Descending chromatic line. Jazz tonic. Enharmonic of Fm7b5.
Is Abm6 the same as Fm7b5?
Same notes, different root.
What songs use Minor 6th?
My Funny Valentine pattern.
How does Abm6 differ from Ab6?
Abm6 has minor third (Cb).